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Synthesis of hand grasp using functional neuromuscular stimulation
IEEE Transactions on Bio-Medical Engineering
|July 1, 1989
Summary
This study presents a new functional neuromuscular stimulation system enabling grasp-release for individuals with quadriplegia. The system synthesizes user commands into muscle activation for improved functional grasping patterns.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Neuroprosthetics
Background:
- Quadriplegia often results in loss of hand function, significantly impacting independence.
- Existing assistive technologies may have limitations in restoring natural grasp-release capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) system for grasp-release in individuals with quadriplegia.
- To create a method for synthesizing subject commands into effective muscle activation patterns for grasping.
Main Methods:
- Developed a single-command input system to control stimulus levels across multiple electrodes for simultaneous muscle activation.
- Implemented electrode profiling to characterize individual electrode/muscle outputs.
- Utilized rule-based procedures for grouping electrodes and synthesizing grasp parameters.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated functional lateral and palmar grasps using the developed FNS system.
- The synthesized grasp patterns were shown to be functionally viable for users.
- The system successfully translated user commands into coordinated muscle stimulation for grasping.
Conclusions:
- The developed FNS system offers a promising approach to restoring grasp-release function in quadriplegia.
- The command-to-stimulus synthesis method provides a foundation for personalized FNS control.
- Future work will focus on refining the method and exploring further improvements for enhanced functionality.